European Summer Sales Boost GTA 5 to Top Spot | Monthly European Charts

The European gaming market saw a significant surge in July, with 11.6 million console and PC games sold, marking a 34% increase from the same period in 2022. Digital sales accounted for nearly 7.9 million of these sales, representing a 60% rise, while physical sales reached 3.75 million, up 0.2%. According to GSD data, which tracks digital sales from major AAA game publishers across Europe and physical sales in key markets, the summer promotions on PlayStation and Xbox have drastically altered the charts. Grand Theft Auto 5 has reclaimed the top spot, while Red Dead Redemption 2 has risen to No.3, with both Rockstar titles experiencing discounts on console, particularly on PlayStation platforms. The new game with the highest chart position was Pikmin 4, a Nintendo Switch exclusive, which debuted at No.11. Although its debut may seem modest, Pikmin 4's sales have increased by 81% compared to Pikmin 3: Deluxe's performance in October 2020, over its first two weeks on the market. In terms of hardware, 493,000 game consoles were sold across tracked European countries, a 62.5% increase from July 2022, but a 2% decrease from June this year. The UK and Germany are not included in these tracked markets, with UK hardware figures available separately. The PS5 dominated the European market in July, with console sales rising by 244% compared to the same period last year. Strong price promotions on the PS5 in July led to a 24% increase in sales from June. Overall, year-to-date PS5 sales have surged by 203% across tracked territories. The Nintendo Switch finished the month in second place, with sales down 9% compared to July 2022. Year-to-date, Nintendo Switch sales remain flat compared to 2022. GSD digital data encompasses games from participating companies sold via Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Eshop. Key participating companies include Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Capcom, and many others. Notable absentees include Nintendo and 505 Games, as well as smaller studios. Digital data covers games sold in various European countries, including Austria, Belgium, and the UK, while physical data includes all games sold in major markets such as Austria, Belgium, and France. Console hardware sales are tracked in countries like Belgium, Denmark, and France, with accessories sales covering similar markets, excluding Switzerland.